GPS seminarium 21 mars

The impact of ‘Euroscepticism’ on the European trade justice movement

Michael Strange (Associate Professor, GPS)

Discussant: Gunnhildur Lily Magnusdottir (Senior Lecturer, GPS)

This presentation draws upon my past work and research project currently in development, asking how European civil society working on trade politics has been impacted by the apparent wave of Euroscepticism across the continent. Even where trade justice campaigns have not publicly relied upon a ‘European’ frame, such an identity has often proven important to activists in forming the transnational alliances through which they have shared critical reports, strategies, and sometimes coordinated joint actions. Given the current nationalist backlash, does trans-European activity still matter for civil society campaigning on trade issues – and how does this shape civil society organisations’ interaction with EU Institutions and national governments?